The Frogmen Review

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(More customer reviews)To those of us who share the collective title of "boomers" (not to be confused with certain nuclear submarine types) , there are certain movies out there in the DVD marketplace now that bring back fond memories. In the early 1960s, television was coming out of a period when most of what was shown..movie-wise...were cinematic studio "oldies" shown on local "late shows". "early shows", "shock theatres", etc. This is where we got introductions to Crosby & Hope, Karloff, Lugosi, King Kong, the Duke, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, the "Three Mesquiteers", Errol Flynn, and many others.
As these new 60s got underway, though, something new and exciting began on the NBC network. The Peacock crowd (with their new toy , color television) cranked up a new tv show..."Saturday Night At the Movies"...shown every Saturday night (natch)at 9:00 p.m. EST (or DST in summer). Verbally hosted by Donald Rickles (NOT to be confused with comedian DON Rickles), "Saturday Night At The Movies" was a special arrangement between NBC and 20th Century Fox Film Corporation to show recent quality movie releases (10 years old or less)...many in (surprise) Color!...on prime time each week.
This show quickly became a solid hit and inspired many imitators (ABC launched a "Sunday Night Movie" shortly thereafter in a deal with United Artists). On Saturday night one now got a dose of more recent cinematic fare (and much better image quality) than we'd been previously used to. And, oh, what we got to see!!!! "Titanic" (Webb & Stanwycke), "THe Seven Year Itch" (Monroe & Ewell), "Niagra" (Monroe),
The Day the Earth Stood Still" (Rennie & Neal"), "No Highway In the Sky" (James Stewart), "Prince Valiant" (Wagner), "The Hunters" (Mitchum, Egan, & Wagner), "The Enemy Below" (Mitchum & Jurgens), and on and on: "The Desert Fox", "The Desert Rats", "Cheaper By the Dozen", "How To Marry A Millionaire",
"Halls of Montezuma", "Beneath the 12-Mile Reef". "Red Skies of Montana", etc.
And, among these, "The Frogmen".
And seeing it again has been a treat, because it is a wonderful movie. Reminds one of how good they USED to make them (before they were "gimmicked up" to be on-screen video games for
no-brain adolescents). There is action and excitement a'plenty here, along with a good BELIEVABLE story (how rare is THAT nowadays? "Mr. & Mrs. Smith"???) and some GREAT acting performances....Richard Widmark and Dana Andrews in particular. Widmark (the original "edgy" actor....LONG before Nick Cage) turns in yet another of his fabulous performances as the new CO of UDT Team 4 in the South Pacific, late in the war. As usual Widmark operates on all acting cylinders here...he works with vocal timing and perfect dialog delivery, dead-on body language and mannerisms, and couldn't-be-better eyework...proof once again that this great star-yet-not-a-superstar was one of Hollywood's hands-down best actors (Check out "Halls of Montezuma" or "Madigan", among other roles). Widmark does not play a cardboard hero here. He is a man plagued with flaws and doubts...yet a good, brave man. Just a complicated one.
And, good as Widmark's performance is, Dana Andrews stands up to equal it as Widmark's nemesis. Andrews plays a Chief Petty Officer in Team 4 who is like oil to Widmark's water, and who, with dogged resentment to Widmark's "taking the place" of Team 4's lately-killed former commander, won't "cut the new guy any slack" and keeps resentment stirred up against Widmark by all the enlisted team members. The war of acceptance or non-aceptance between the new C.O. and "the guys" lies at the heart of the movie. And this is a "war" well played throughout.
Jeffrey Hunter privides strong backup here. as does Gary Merrill (Captain of the UDT mission ship), and a group of good character actors (some, like Jack Warden and a couple of others, who would become much more high profile later on).
Biggest mystery about "The Frogmen" concerns Robert Wagner.
He is always listed as "being there", and is named PROMINENTLY in the the credits....yet he is barely there at all! He cannot have any more than 45 seconds screen time...if THAT!!! He seems to play a junior bridge officer (when seen) named "Ensign Franklin", who, recognizable AS a young Robert Wagner as he stands in proximity to Gary Merrill in two long shots of the bridge, does NOTHING but stand there. On one other scene, for about a 5-second run (tops...if THAT) he is called on by Merril to "Mr. Franklin, lower a boat". To which order Wagner delivers (near as I can tell), his only three lines in the movie: "Aye aye, sir!".
That little peculiarity apart, everything else about this film works. Co-operation by the Navy helped produce a "ton" of informative UDT action scenes: the viewer is shown the operations of the departure and pick-up boats, the sling-catching of the frogmen that retrieves them out the water into a rubber raft attached to the pick-up boat...actual scouting of beach traps and the mining of same with stachel demo charges...the planting of a "Welcome to the Beach" sign as a rag on the marines (based on a real WWII practice)...and a full scale harbor penetration in dry suits and scuba at the film's end to blow up Japanese submarine pens. The producers (and Navy)
"fudge" this a little bit by having the team go in wearing 1950s era aqualungs, regulators, and hoses (rather than the real WWII style rebreathers they would really have used), but this might have been done for some security reason (hard to tell). No matter, the scenes work. That's what really counts.
All ends well here...just the way you want it to. All team conflicts aren't shown to have been "ironed out" completely, but enough evidence is there to show that a corner has been turned in team relations with UDT 4 to suggest the old guys and the new guy might just be headed for some hard-won mutual acceptance after all.
Again, good movie. Well worth watching and in glorious black and white .
With this out, and "Halls of Montezuma" (another Widmark winner), makes you hope Fox puts out "Red Skies of Montana", the most exciting smoke jumper/forest fire movie ever put to film. Also wouldn't hurt to see the OTHER big FROGMAN movie either: Dan Dailey as the "Underwater Warrior".


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FROGMEN - DVD Movie

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The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982) Review

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(More customer reviews)My sister has raved about this film for as long as I can remember. When I failed to find it in our local video store, she told me not to worry, as she had recently bought it and would lend it to me. Well, having now seen the film, I can understand why she raved about it. It is a vastly entertaining film, filled with a smattering of history, swashbuckling action, political intrigue, romance, and droll humor. Couple all this with some very good acting and direction, and one has a must-see period piece. It is historical fiction brought to life.
Based loosely upon the novels of Baroness Orczy, the Scarlet Pimpernel is the hero of beleaguered eighteenth century French aristocrats. The Scarlet Pimpernel dedicates himself to rescuing aristocrats that, in the Republic of the post-revolution era, are destined to lose their heads in the feeding frenzy engendered by the minions of Robespierre. Just who the Scarlet Pimpernel is, the French have not a clue, other than he is believed to be an Englishman. The viewer, however, is on the secret of his identity from the very beginning.
Anthony Andrews plays the extremely foppish dandy, Sir Percy Blakeney, who is about as blue blooded as one can be and live. He is also the wealthiest man in all of England. Given to amusing his fellow aristocrats with bons mots, he also devises entertaining rhyming couplets about the Scarlet Pimpernel. Speaking in a highly affected voice and sporting the latest in fashionable attire, Sir Percy is a seemingly unlikely action hero. Yet, it is he who rescues those who are destined to lose their heads to the dreaded guillotine. It is he who is the Scarlet Pimpernel.
Since the Scarlet Pimpernel is putting a crimp into the post-revolution blood bath, the feared Chauvelin (Ian McKellen), an ardent revolutionist and hatchet man for Robespierre, seeks to capture him. Chauvelin has a soft side, however, as he is profoundly in love with Marguerite St. Just (Jane Seymour), the premier actress of France and one of its most celebrated beauties. Unfortunately for him, however, Sir Percy has just met Marguerite and been smitten. When Sir Percy romantically woos and wins the heart of Marguerite, she consents to marry him, not knowing that he is the Scarlet Pimpernel. When she marries Sir Percy, Chauvelin stops at nothing to exact his revenge, and his actions eventually cause a rift in the marriage.
What happens to Sir Percy, Marguerite, and Chauvelin is well worth seeing. Anthony Andrews is utterly charming, romantic, and drolly funny in his dual role as the dandified fop/dashing action hero who is in love with the prettiest girl in town. Jane Seymour is perfect as the beautiful thespian who captures the heart of a wealthy aristocrat, only to find, in the end, that she has married a romantic hero. Ian McKellen is effective as the angst ridden Chauvelin, who has had his heart pierced by Cupid's arrow.
This is a wonderful film. Now, having seen it on video, I am eagerly awaiting its release on DVD, so as to add it to my personal collection. It is a film that one can enjoy watching again and again.

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The swashbuckling classic comes to rip-roaring life in this lavishproduction, filled with breathless romance and derring-do! In the eyes of high society, SirPercy Blakeney (Brideshead Revisited's Anthony Andrews) is a typical fop, surroundedby adoring ladies and clueless gentry. However, he is also a master of disguise and bearsan infamous secret identity: the Scarlet Pimpernel, dashing and fearless rescuer of victimsof the French Revolution! Sir Percy also falls head over heels for the beautiful Marguerite(Somewhere in Time's Jane Seymour), who is also wooed by the villainous PaulChauvelin (The Lord of the Rings' Sir Ian McKellan), Robespierre's Chief Agent for theCommittee of National Security. Suave, stylish, and utterly irresistible, this dazzlingadventure is sure to capture your heart!

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The Punisher (1990) Review

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(More customer reviews)Let's face it, before Blade (1998), X-Men (2000) and Spider-Man (2002), Marvel Comics really didn't have much luck in getting successful films made based on their characters. The reason? Because they would often sell the movie rights to anyone who had two coins to rub together, releasing cinematic flops like Dr. Strange (1978), Howard the Duck (1986), Captain America (1989), and even a Fantastic Four movie that was so bad it never saw the light of day, as it was too bad to even release on video. And then there was The Punisher (1989), a character introduced in the 70's within the pages of The Amazing Spider-Man, issue 129, circa February 1974, a former police detective, now vigilante, taking revenge on criminals, motivated by the death of his family. Most people I know who've seen the film have pretty distinctive feelings about it, ranging from dislike to severe hate, but I always thought it was pretty good, considering...
The film, directed by Mark Goldblatt, whose primary credits include editing films like The Howling (1981), The Terminator (1984), and True Lies (1994), stars Dolph Lundgren, Louis Gossett, Jr., and Jerome Krabbé. Yeah, I know what you're thinking...Dolph Lundgren? I think a number of people had instant reservations when hearing Dolph, certainly an interminable dweller of the B movie circuit, pre-judging the film unfairly. Lou Gossett, Jr. brings a little star power to the table, but he also is no stranger to B movie fans appearing in films like Jaws 3-D (1983), Firewalker (1986), and any of the four or so Iron Eagle films.
The film opens with a television news report, giving us some expository background with regards to a mafia type recently acquitted of the crime of killing detective Frank Castle (Lungren) and his family five years prior. The report also speaks of an elusive character named the Punisher, who has been busy killing members of the mafia over the last five years, racking up an impressive body count. Any connection? Probably...anyway, the mafia guy, returns home to celebrate, and guess who crashes the party? Killing and explosions ensue. Enter Detective Jake Berkowitz (Gossett). Seems Detective Berkowitz has been leading the investigation of the Punisher for the last five years, and believes the Punisher is actually Frank Castle, despite his superior's beliefs that Castle is dead, as the thought of a rogue cop going around killing people would be unpopular. With the recent death of this mafia boss, there's a void of real leadership in the organization, one filled with the return of Gianni Franco (Krabbé) from Europe, who intends to unite the remains of the various mob families whose ranks have been severely depleted by you know who...
Turns out the decimation of the mafia families hasn't gone unnoticed, as the Yakuza (Japanese mafia) has decided to move in and take a controlling interest in criminal activities within the city, a hostile takeover, to say the least. Sounds pretty to the Punisher, as if the criminals are killing themselves off, less work for him...until the Yakuza kidnaps children of the remaining mafia families in an effort to extort control and pressure them under the Yakuza's thumb. So Castle, feeling somewhat responsible as his five-year vendetta has left the families unable to protect even their own children, begins dealing with the Yakuza, which eventually leads to an unlikely alliance with Franco, who's son is one of the kidnapped children.
Guns, knives, throwing stars, explosions, it's all here (well, as far as the explosions, at one point the Punisher is firing a grenade launcher, and the explosions seem less than spectacular, more flashy than boom boomy). Not only that but there's a good amount of karate. Lundgren, a former karate champion himself, performs most all of his own stunts, and there is almost no choreography within the marital arts scenes, as real artists were used, and training in stunt techniques. Does the film stay true to the original character portrayed in the comics? For the most part...some minor changes, along with a few major ones (he never dons a shirt emblazoned with a white skull on it). I think one of the main reasons this film was ill received is because comic fans are a particular picky lot, as they spend a lot of time getting to know these characters, and tend to have high expectations when someone adapts one of their favorite characters to the silver screen. I read comics from the age of 9 until I was 23, so I have intimate knowledge, or at least I did, of many characters, and I thought this particular rendition of this character retained most of the important elements. The main element I didn't care for was his living in the sewers. I brought to mind teenage mutant ninja turtles, which is an altogether different film. I did think Lundgren face makeup was overdone. I understand why it was done the way it was, to present the visage of a skull when the light hit his face just right, and it succeeded, but other times he sort of looked like a drag queen. The most painful element of the film was the dialog. I rolled my eyes more than a few times as the delineation between Frank Castle and the Punisher was examined, unsuccessfully. Some of it was extremely corny, more so combined with Lundgren's deadpan delivery. The direction was pretty good in most areas, given that this was Goldblatt's second film, his first being the Joe Piscopo/Treat Williams cop flick Dead Heat (1988). Goldblatt has since returned to editing, which seems a much better fit for him. Gossett is fun to watch, but again, given the dialog, he is given some completely rotten lines, but he does seem to try to make the best of it, earning whatever he got for appearing in this film.
A nice wide screen anamorphic print here and good audio, with special features including production notes and a theatrical trailer.
Cookieman108

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"The Punisher" details the abuse of the comic book antihero in his first and only screen outing. After the mafia murders his wife and children, New York cop Frank Castle disappears into the bowels of the city sewer system, planning his revenge. He spends the next couple of years stepping out of and back into the urban shadows as he picks off Gotham's big-shot Italian gangsters. Then Lady Tanaka, a fiery Japanese crime-lord, enters this grim scene and heads begin to roll. Castle initially gets a kick out of her bloody antics and the newly cannibalistic underworld. But when Tanaka and her cronies kidnap a rival's kids, Castle decides to intercede and show her exactly how killing is done in the Big Apple.

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have always been a fan of the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" cartoons at a very young age. I have a lot of the episodes on tape and love to still watch them. I had heard that there were three non-animation movies out on the series but was never really compelled to see them. But the other day while at the video rental store, I decided to rent all three out. And what a surprise I got when I saw the first film for I actually enjoyed and loved watching it!
15 years have passed since a rat named Splinter (Kevin Clash) found four baby turtles in a puddle of ooze in the sewers. Because of the contact with the ooze, Splinter and the four turtles became mutants. Naming them after Renaissance artists, Leonardo (David Forman), Raphael (Josh Pais), Michaelangelo (Michelan Sisti), and Donatello (Leif Tilden), Splinter teaches them the ancient secret art of fighting. When the mysterious evil Shredder James Saito organizes the Foot Clan formed of young teenagers, causing the city to be in uproar because of vandalism. With the help of reporter April O'Neil (Judith Hoag) and former athlete Casey Jones (Elias Koteas), it's up to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to save the day!
The movie has an interesting story-line if not extremely cheesy and corny but hey, that's how the original cartoons were! In fact, I would have found the movie unlikable if it hadn't contained some of the cartoon aspects of the original series. Also a lot of interesting facts are revealed like how Splinter's past is related to Shredder and the beginnings of the turtles.
Comparing the movie to the series, I was a bit surprised to find that movie usually centers on the character of Raphael. His character is a bit different from the series, a bit more hot-tempered, impatient, and more of a loner. Leonardo is still the leader, Donatello doesn't get much chance to work with gadgets and computers, and Michaelangelo... well... he's still his usual likable self! April O'Neal is also working for Channel 3 news instead of Channel 6 News. The adding of Elias Koteas as Casey Jones was an interesting thread to insert for he was a fun and likable guy.
The martial arts and fighting were well choreographed and was enjoyable to watch. I especially liked the fight at April's place, the end fight with the Foot, and the last fight with Shredder. The movie is also sprinkled from beginning to end with funny parts, quotable lines, and humor. Jim Henson should also get credit for doing an incredible job with the turtles and Splinter.
To sum of the movie, whether you are or aren't a turtles fan, I highly recommend this movie! Lots of fun and great entertainment, it's terrific for the family. The movie is rated PG because of some language, the fighting, and since it has some dark moments. I also recommend the next two "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" movies. The second one, "The Secret of the Ooze" is my personal favorite of the three.

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie is the live-action, feature film adaptation of the cult comic book and the popular animated television show. After prolonged exposure to radiation, four teenage turtles--Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo, and Donatello--have mutated into ninjas and have begun living in the sewers of a large city. Under the guidance of a ninja master Splinter the Rat and television reporter April, the Turtles embark on a mission to run crime out of the city and battle the warlord Shredder. Year: 1990 Director: Steve Barron Starring: Judith Hoag, Elias Koteas, Corey Feldman DVD Features:Interactive MenusTheatrical Trailer

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Sliders - Third Season (1995) Review

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(More customer reviews)First this is an honest to goodness review of the boxed set. There's no speculation here as to what's in the set. The first two seasons of "Sliders" found the series looking for its "slider legs" so to speak. By the second short season the series had found its niche and a solid direction for the series. Both seasons had their fair share of strong episodes. The third season was the first full one with 25 episodes produced. While there were about as many quality episodes here as seasons 1 & 2, we get a number of the series best episodes here including one where Dr. Arturo leaves the group permanently in a moving episode. Regardless, season three had a number of strong episodes ("Rules of the Game", "Number 1 Fan", "The Exodus" Parts 1 & 2 and "The Guardian" are a few highlights). I'm not going to go over the plots of the episodes (there's too many to do justice to the series)but you can find synposis of each at the tv.com website.
Image and sound quality are exceptionally good. The series looks great with vivid, bold colors and features nice use of the Dolby Digital Surround format (evidently Universal must be thinking of the other "Sliders" produced on an alternate Earth as they list the soundtrack as being in mono in a number of places). Extras are light for season three with only a gag reel (provided by one of the fan sites). There was more material that another fan site had and would have offered Universal for free if they had been contacted in time (at least according to Gord Lacey at tvondvd). I'm hoping he's right as, perhaps, we could see this material on the mixed fourth season boxed set.
We do get as a bonus episodes of "Earth 2" and "Cleopatra 2525" ("The Man Who Fell to Earth", no it isn't related to Nichoas Roeg's movie, and "Quest for Fire Power" respectively)which is designed to get "Sliders" fans to purchase those series as well. While "Earth 2" had its moments, "Cleopatra 2525" never appealed to me all that much.
The packaging has improved with a digipak plastic container holding the discs. They no longer appear to "hover" in their container like the first season set (the design of which many fans disliked)but the digipak plastic container has its own challenges. Personally, I'm going to be putting mine into four slim line cases as these discs are dual sided and, as I experienced with "The Outer Limits", suffer damage so much easier than single sided dual layered discs.
Overall, season three had a good run of great episodes. While the quantity of episodes was up the quality didn't increase with more episodes so there's about the same ratio of good to so-so episodes here. At least this set is more reasonably priced and that's good news.

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Mastermind Quinn Mallory (Jerry O'Connell) returns for more fantastical adventures as he continues traveling from universe to universe in the complete Third Season of Sliders. Along with comrade Wade (Sabrina Lloyd), physics professor Arturo (John Rhys-Davies), and Rembrandt "Crying Man" Brown (Cleavant Derricks), Quinn explores new and mysterious Earths and along the way encounters tornadoes, droughts, wizards, warlocks and even his own younger self. Featuring TV's hottest guest stars, including Apollonia Kotero, Corey Feldman and Danny Masterson, Sliders will rock your world. All 25 thrilling episodes of season three are here in this 4-disc set and available for the first time on DVD! Sliders: The Third Season. Will they ever make it home?

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The A-Team - Season Three (1983) Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this the day it came out and watched a couple of episodes without incident and then began watching "The Bend In The River" when the problems started. At 1 hour 10 minutes and 43 seconds into the episode right when Hannibal says "sure" the dvd just stopped and went to the main menu. The rest of the episode was missing...it just stopped so I tried it out on two other dvd players I have here and then figured I got a bad copy and went up to the store to exchange it. Well, once I got it home the second one did the same exact thing, so I exchanged it a third time. The third copy actually plays through the episode but freezes for about 5 seconds in the exact same place that the others were messed up. I haven't even gotten to the other 5 DVD's but my assumption from reading the reviews here is that they are going to have problems too.
I can't understand how they release these seasons of the A-Team so painfully slow at Universal and can let something with this many errors reach the stores. In the 10 months since the release of Season 2 could they not have had some type of quality control make sure that the Season 3 DVD's actually played?
This release has absolutely no bonus features unlike the Columbia House collectors edition ones, which have some outtakes and other things. And I have to wonder with this release just like the other two seasons why can they not put chapters in where the commercial breaks are instead of having to fast forward to get back to the spot I left off? Just like Season 2 these are double sided DVD's which scratch very easily and make all kinds of noises in the DVD player, I would have liked 6 single sided DVD's much better. And one last problem is that when you put the DVD you absolutely have to watch the Universal Studios introduction for about 10 seconds because you cannot skip it and access the menu.
There are two good things I can say about this release the first being that it's the A-Team, which is the best television show of all time and this is probably my favorite season. The second good thing is that a coupon is enclosed for $5 off of Season 4 when it gets released. To have released this Season with this many errors and problems on the DVD's is an insult to A-Team fans everywhere who have waited 20+ years to buy this on DVD. Universal needs to recall all of them and issue working copies. Update: I have just gotten off the phone with Universal and they have said that they will replace the DVD for me and others who are having problems. You can call them at 972-293-5903 or email ushe.consumerrelations@worldmarkinc.com and put A-Team Season 3 replacement in the subject line. I have added a star to my review since they're customer service was friendly and returned my call promptly, but I have still subtracted a star for each trip I have made to the store.


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If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you find them, maybe you can hire The A-Team! Get ready for more explosive action, adrenaline-pumping thrills and unbelievable A-Team excitement as all 25 episodes of Season Three arrive on three double-sided DVDs for the first time! In the most popular season ever, Hannibal, Face, Murdock and B.A. face off against new criminals with the most outrageous schemes yet - from toxic-waste dumping to wild-game poaching to restaurant sabotage. Roaring to the scene in their famous black van, TV's favorite heroes for hire are back and ready for business!

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The Sopranos: Season 6, Part 1 (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)It's lonely in the ranks that believe that season 6 of The Sopranos was as good, if not better, than the seasons before it, but I am convinced that the first 12 episodes of season 6 are amongst the bravest, best written, and most telling episodes of the series. The Sopranos has long been a show with the most complex, multi-layered characters on television, but by using the mantra of "Who am I, where am I going" as a rallying point, season 6 probed the nature of what drives its family, and gets in intense focus of who each of them is. The problem, I think, was that it did its job TOO well this season - it's not that there wasn't action (the death count this year was as high as any other, and Tony does, after all, nearly die himself), but that because the show wanted so much to get the specifics of the ordinary right, it's easy to overlook the rather consternated implications of their everyday events. What I mean is that in showing each character at his/her essence, we get what really drives them, but we don't necessarily get that explained to us - we, for example, identify with Carmela's sense of longing and uncertainty staring off at the Eiffel Tower, or we register that Paulie is adrift in guilt and anxiety over his actions in life, but we get it in the details of their everyday action and, these characters experiencing these implications alone, get little of that wrapped up for us. To me, that speaks to a level of characterization and examination that doesn't exist in television and barely exists in film - it probes the specifics of its fictional characters so precisely, it winds up speaking to the heart of what drives Americans and the materialism of American culture that makes things like mobs possible. In that, it brings forth insurance agent, real estate claimsmen and salesmen, actors, and (in one unforgettable shout-out) Dick Cheney - comparisons of the same urges. Yet this season does more than critique the impulses, it allows them to exist, allows all of their very real virtues to be present, and lets them arise from its characters distinct, full-bodied personalities - money helps keep AJ out of jail, gets him laid, repairs Tony's relationship with his sister, keeps Carmela from probing too deeply into Adriana's murder, gets Tony reasonable health care, and nearly spares Vito's life and stops a cross-river gang war. I may be alone in the level to which the Sopranos makes me think, but I do think David Chase's intentions are to use his astonishingly vivid characters to go into depth about the American mentality (or, they're not, and it's just a product of three dimensional writing). However, even if it weren't, the season gives you extraordinary moments to savor - Paulie's confrontation with mortality ("The Ride"), Carmela crying at Tony's bedside ("Join The Club"), Christopher's gut-shaking relapse ("Kaisha," with a fearless guest turn by Juliana Marguilles), AJ's inability to carry out his "big plan" against Junior ("Johnny Cakes"), and, unforgettably, Philly's cold stare as his machinations to kill Vito are achieved ("Cold Stones"). They're moments of magnificent acting that fulfill characters even as it surprises you with their humanity and personality. And, in the premiere, "Members Only," it gives you it all in an hour - a suicide, heart attack, and gun shot that seem to tell you everything you've ever needed to know about the mob life, about why they - if not you - do what they do.

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Several crises threaten Tony and his crew; for starters, rival boss Johnny Sack (Vince Curatola) is in prison, and the always-tense relations between the New Jersey and New York families are strained through the unpredictable behavior of Sack?s surrogates. Then there are the inevitable power struggles that ensue when certain family members are eliminated, by natural and other causes.DVD Features:3D Animated MenusAudio CommentaryFeaturette

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The Expendables (Three-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy) (2010) Review

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(More customer reviews)Oh man was this a fun movie!
At one point I leaned over to one of my buddies and said, "Best. Movie. Ever." Really. Actually, it probably isn't the best movie ever. But it was a nice throwback to the good old days of 80's movies that I grew up watching with the cheesy Schwarzenegger one-liners and over the top violence where the good guy wins and the bad guy meets his maker in some ridiculous way.
There are some over the top visuals that make it worth seeing and hearing; the sound was pretty amazing. And by amazing, I mean loud. Explosions you can feel in your bowels and that's not just the beef and bean burrito from lunch talkin' either. Better than they could do in the Eighties.
They missed out on a rematch w/ Lundgren and Stallone. I kept waiting for Lundgren to say, "I will break you" to someone but it never happened. The Schwarzenegger cameo was cool, but he should have thrown someone out of a window or something. Not happening these days. Same w/ Willis; he really has no part in this and didn't seem too menacing to me which was also disappointing. However, the rest of the cast delivered cases of canned butt-whoopin' as if they were FedEx.
Here's a typical scene. Statham kicks the tar out of a bunch of knuckleheads: in front of his ex-girlfriend who is dating one of said knuckleheads who, predictably, smacks her around. Too bad for Knucklehead that her ex has more than a passing interest in her and happens to be in a bad mood when he learns of the abuse. Bam. Pow. Smack. Insert one-liner, get the girl back, ride off unharmed w/ hottie on the motorcycle. I think people actually cheered at the fight choreography. I mean, the whole movie is like this. It's brilliant.
There are some good comic bits but really, it is simply a throwback movie done with bigger, badder explosions and a lot of your favorite tough guys from the era when action actors were immensely rugged dudes. Muscles ruled, brains, not so much.
5 stars because I can't imagine that they could have recaptured the fun from the Eighties in a better way than they did here. Don't take it seriously and enjoy it for what it is.

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Sylvester Stallone stars as Barney Ross, leader of The Expendables, a tight-knit team of skilled combat vets turned mercenaries. Hired by a powerful covert operator, the team jets off to a small South American country to overthrow a ruthless dictator. Once there, they find themselves caught in a deadly web of deceit and betrayal. Using every weapon at their disposal, they set out to save the innocent and punish the guilty in this blistering action-packed thriller.

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La Femme Nikita: The Complete Third Season (1997) Review

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(More customer reviews)
As we left section, Adrian tried to take over Section One but failed. Season three is the season that the show really took shape and the supporting characters came into their own.
There are 22 episodes on six discs.
Disc One -
Looking for Michael - Everyone who knew about Adrian is being killed, including Nikita who escapes her trap. Nikita is looking for Michael and finds him with a wife and child. This episode introduces George, a foe for Operations and Madeline.
Someone Else's Shadow - Michael's cover with Elena moves forward in hopes to draw out her terrorist father. Section initiates letters to Elena and her father to make contact. Elena's father sets up a meeting but does not show.
Opening Night Jitters - The Elena cover continues. Michael is to poison her to draw out her father but he cannot. But section can and does, sending Elena to the hospital. He father comes and is eliminated and so is Michael.
Gates of Hell - Michael is devastated at the loss of Elena and Adam. It is affecting his work and Nikita is worried that his fake death may become permanent. When Nikita is captured during a mission and Michael is told to withdraw, he saves her.
Disc Two -
Imitation of Death - We're back to regular episodes. Section is after a man who trains children into terrorists. Nikita is sold to them.
Love and Country - Section targets a political candidate who has dubious ties including one to Operation's first wife.
Cat and Mouse - Nikita is kidnapped by an old target and replaced with an identical "clone". Nikita is forced to help the clone or Michael will be killed. So is she helping or is she giving secret clues?
Outside the Box - A man is needed for his eidetic memory and is framed for murder. Nikita starts to wonder if she was framed for her murder. But you're going to have to wait until Season 5 to resolve Nikita's question.
Disc Three -
Slipping Into Darkness - Michael gives Operations a hallucinogen making him delusional and paranoid. Michael then takes over Section.
Under the Influence - A subject is brainwashed to believe that Nikita is his fiancé. Nikita has also been drugged to feel for the subject.
Walk on By - Nikita runs into an old neighborhood acquaintance in section and he tells her that her mother is looking for her. Nikita does whatever she must to stop her. Walter looks up an old love.
Threshold of Pain - Nikita and two operatives were captured and tortured. One gave up the location of a substation.
Disc Four -
Beyond the Pale - Michael is passed over for promotion and decides it's time to escape with Nikita. Michael is captured and tortured to locate the router and Nikita.
Hand to Hand - Nikita is to tag an agent but to do so, she must enter a white slavery ring. The thing that Nikita wasn't told was that the girls also are involved in pit fighting to the death.
Before I Sleep - When a hostile commits suicide before Section can utilize her, a duplicate is found and trained. Juliet Landau makes a guest appearance before she came to fame as Druscilla in Buffy, the Vampire Slayer.
I Remember Paris - Section is compromised and destroyed. This is the first time where they actually show a location, the Eiffel Tower. Therefore, Section was in Paris. The mission is retrieve the stolen files before anything can be decoded and Operations is taking it personal.
Disc Five -
All Good Things - Operations is off on assignment and Michael is now in charge. Michael promotes Nikita to tactical. George puts a chess game between Michael and Madeline in action.
Third Party Ripoff - Madeline has decided to penalize Michael's betrayal by ordering an end to his relationship with Nikita. Walter and Birkoff are played by a beautiful operative.
Any Means Necessary - Birkoff is sent into the field to break into a sneaker black hat crew. The question is has he been turned?
Three Eyed Turtle - Tensions between Operations and Madeline intensify. As do those between Birkoff and Hillenger, even after Birkoff covers for Hillenger. George looks to capitalize on the tensions.
Disc Six -
Playing With Fire - Operations and Madeline are not sure if Michael and Nikita have really broken up and set a trap.
On Borrowed Time - Operations and Madeline continue their quest to stop Michael and Nikita. They send them on a mission to remove Nikita and treat her. It appears to have worked. For helping them, they send Walter to "retirement".
This is a great show with Peta Wilson and Roy Dupuis bring up the heat and head a great cast. But this year Alberta Watson as Madeline found her niche. Let's talk cold and scary.
DVD EXTRAS:
Disc One:
Commentary on Looking for Michael with director Jon Cassar and actor Eugene Robert Glaser (Operations)
Cancelled Scenes - Two scenes, one from Looking for Michael and the other from Opening Night Jitters and you choose to have commentary by Cassar and Glaser or none. (You might want to do both as they talk though both scenes.)
Disc Two:
Cancelled Scene from Love and Country with commentary by Cassar and Glaser. The
one thing this scene does is gives Operations' real name, Paul.
Disc Three:
Cancelled Scenes - Five scenes from three episodes with or without (your choice) commentary by Cassar and Glaser.
Disc Four:
Cancelled Scene from Beyond the Pale with (or without) commentary by Cassar and Glaser.
Disc Five:
Cancelled Scene from Three Eyed Turtle with (or without) commentary by Cassar and Glaser.
Disc Six:
Commentary for On Borrowed Time with writer Peter Lenkov and Operations Eugene Robert Glazer.
Designing Nikita - Nine minute featurette on the production design.
Gag Reel - Three minutes of gaffs and goofs.

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"You're one of us now," Nikita is told. But has she truly abandoned her compassionate nature and become an unquestioning member of the soulless covert organization called Section One? Or has she mastered the group's knack for deceit and cover-up so efficiently that she can beat Section at its own game? The sleek, chic and powerful adventures of the agent codenamed Josephine continue in Season Three of the intrigue-filled five-year series that stars Peta Wilson in the title role. Season three is marked by the unveiling of Michael's secret life, Nikita and Michael's romantic relationship and the further suspicion about the true nature of Section One.DVD Features:Audio CommentaryDeleted ScenesFeaturette:"Designing Nikita" a behind the scenes look at the award winning production designer, Rocco MatteoGag Reel

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Astro Boy - The Complete Series (2004) Review

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(More customer reviews)PLEASE, stop complaining that this isn't the original Astro Boy series. This has to be the most absurd basis for a review I've ever read. It's like yelling at a waiter for bringing you EXACTLY WHAT YOU ORDERED even though in your mind you really wanted something else. It's insane. You're not even reviewing the DVD set that this section is reserved for. You're just mad because you weren't paying attention. It's not like Amazon fooled you. If you had bothered to read the DVD specs in the first place, you would have realized that this set is from the 2003 TV series (which is beautiful and true to the "original" 1963-66 Japanese series). So, open your eyes next time. Don't bash it before you've seen it.
Any "true" Astro Boy fan will be happy to own this collection.

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ASTRO BOY:COMPLETE SERIES - DVD Movie

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Mission: Impossible - Seasons 1-5 Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a very expensive Pack. If you buy each season individually it will cost $155.95 as of today. That is a savings of $69.04. I love Mission Impossible but whoever put the price tag on this Pack obviously did not do their math at all.


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Sliders - The First and Second Seasons (1995) Review

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(More customer reviews)Though the first two seasons are the best, I enjoyed them
all. And it's about time this set is coming out.
Here are my personal grades and info on the episodes from
the first two seasons.
Here is what you get with the first two seasons.
1. The Pilot Part 1 ( still the best episode) Quinn first discovers that his sliding technology works. Then he tells the proffesor who at first does not believe him. But later comes around. Along with Wade Wells the three of them test out sliding. But when doing so they accidentaly pull in soul singer
Rembrant Brown.( Episode Grade A+ )
2. Pilot Part 2 ( The sliders find San Fran. under an ice age,
and The U.S under Soviet Communist rule. ( Episode Grade A+ )
3.Fever ( The sliders travel to a world that has never developed Antibiotics.Evereyone around them is sick so they must do something before time runs out.(Episode Grade A-)
4.Last Days ( Sliders find a world where an asteroid is about to destroy the earth. The professor saves the day by showing
a fellow scientist how to build a nuke.( Episode grade A+ )
5.Prince of Wails ( In this world America is still under England's Colonial rule.( Episode Grade B )
6. Summer Of Love ( Sliders find alternate world where We are
at war with Austraila and Remy replaces his dead alternate self
as husband to a old high school crush. ( Episode grade C+ )
7.Eggheads ( In this world intellectuals are treated like athletes, and Quinn competes in A weird sport that tests your intellect. ( Episode grade B- )
8. The Weaker Sex ( Sliders enter a world where women are the dominant sex. Arturo makes men believe that they are equals when he runs for office. (ep grade A- )
9.The King Is Back ( Sliders find a world where Rembrant is treated like Elvis. ( Ep grade B- )
10.Luck Of The Draw- (Sliders find a world where money is free if you play the lottery. But the catch is you must give your life in a form of population control.(Ep Grade A+ )
Season 2
11. Into The Mystic ( Sliders enter a world of witchcraft.
Quinn is sick and gets healed by a witchdoctor. Quinn refuses
to pay and the Grim Reaper himself serves Quinn a subpeona.
ep.( Grade A+ )
12.Love Gods ( Quinn,Arturo,Rembrant are in a world with a shortage of men. They are being used as studs to repopulate.
( grade B+
13.Gillian Of The Spirits (Quinn is stuck on an astral plane,
and only a psyhcic girl can see him. ( grade B-
14.The Good The Bad And the Wealthy ( Sliders enter a world not unlike the wild west. Where stocks are exchanged through gunfights. ( grade A- )
15. El Sid ( Sliders find a world where the city of San Francisco is a prison. ( grade A+ )
16.Time and Again World ( Sliders enter world where there is no
U.S. Constitution to be found except on one little floppy disk.
( grade A+ )
17. In Dino Veritas ( Sliders enter a dinosaur wild life reserve) ( grade A- )
18. Post-Traumatic Slide Syndrome ( The sliders think they are home. Rembrant then goes to a psyhciatrist and discovers they are not. ( grade B+ )
19. Obsession ( Sliders find world where everyone can read minds.
( grade B- )
20. Greatfellas ( Sliders find world where the mob controls evereything. ( grade C+ )
21. The Young and The Relentless ( Sliders slide into the backyard of an alternate Quinn and Wade. In this world the young
rule and at a certain age you lose your rights.
( grade B- )
22. Invasion ( Sliders first encounter with the Kromags and unfortunatley not the last. Though this is a quality episode.
The writers seemed to use it too much in later episodes.
( grade B- )
23.As time goes by ( On this episode thse sliders slide 3 times.
Quinn tries to prevent a murder. And the Sliders find time is moving backwards. ( grade A- )
Overall This is a great package with or without extras. We
will have to wait and see what Universal adds.
Finally I can get rid of those tapes.

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SLIDERS:SEASONS 1 & 2 - DVD Movie

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Seaquest DSV - Season One (1993) Review

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(More customer reviews)I loved this show. It was NBC's only decent sci-fi show since they canned Star Trek: TOS in the late 1960s. What we have is a show that parallels Star Trek in many ways yet instead of space travel this takes place underwater. Roy Scheider is Capt. Nathan Bridger who take command of Seaquest DSV an experimental vessel of UEO, which stands for United Earth Oceans. The show draws on many Star Trek principles such as exploration, science, and technology.
Season 2 introduced new characters to the crew and this is when the show's steady decline began. You had a character with gills, an empathtic doctor and a mentally difficient clone called Dagwood joining the crew. The storylines continued to get sillier as the crew battled aliens on other planets. I guess the writers ran out of ideas.
Finally season 3 saw the departure of Schieder as Capt. and the introduction of Micheal Ironside as the new CO. Dont get me wrong, I like Mr. Ironside but after the departure of so many key characters and then the subsequent departure of Scheider made me want to say goodbye to the show as well. Seaquest DSV was cancelled during the middle of its 3rd season.
Once again, a great show that had potential which was ruined by poor writing, frequent cast changes, and an audience that failed to embrace it.

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Travel to the spectacular undersea world of seaQuest DSV as all 23 groundbreaking episodes from the epic first season surface on DVD. The amazing adventure begins in the mid-21st century, as humankind expands its undersea colonization efforts and a tenuous world peace is enforced by the United Earth Oceans (UEO). In order to protect the fledgling underwater colonies from unknown dangers and hostile invaders lurking in the depths of Earth’s last frontier, the UEO recruits Captain Nathan Bridger (Roy Scheider) to command the high-tech battle submarine seaQuest and its diverse and eclectic crew. Along for the ride are a roster of stellar guest stars, including Charlton Heston, William Shatner, Seth Green, Kellie Martin and Kent McCord. Now on DVD for the first time ever, with exclusive never-before-seen footage, the Emmy® Award-winning seaQuest DSV is sure to make waves with thrill-seekers everywhere!

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La Femme Nikita: The Complete Second Season (1997) Review

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(More customer reviews)I only have the first season but am anxiously wanting to purchase all seasons. I don't usually watch serial or seasonal programs, but when I happened to tune into a rerun about 3-4 years ago I was fascinated and hooked to the point where I would wait til 1:00 a.m. to watch it every night, M-F, short changing my sleeping hours until Oxygen took it off the air. This is a phenomenal program. It was way ahead of its time considering what our country has been facing in recent years! The story lines are intelligent, suspenseful, and so relevant today, I find astounding and intriguing their covert actions and references to known leaders, terroristic threats,etc. I am in awe of how this show came so close to scripting scenes that were similar to current events. More than this however are the spectacular performances by Peta Wilson, Roy Dupuis and the rest of the cast. The action, the martial arts stunts, great! Peta is awesome ;I'm mesmerized by her and her role as Nikita...she is so sexy, yet sensitive and convincingly "tough". Both she and Michael add a sensitivity to the harsh reality of their existence and the "job" they have to do. The intensity of their unrequited longing for each other; their ability to convey all of the nuances of an enigmatic relationship that the viewer anticipates will be fulfilled; the way in which they bring you right to the edge of a love that is taboo-just as the show ends, leaves you waiting for more....and that's where I am now, waiting for more. I don't know how I missed this show when it originally ran but I hope all five seasons will eventually be released. This show has been underrated and far outshines the junk on today's TV. Lots more I can say but I just want to see...Season 2,..3..4..5!!! I'll settle for 2 right now.


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LA FEMME NIKITA:SECOND SEASON - DVD Movie

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Dragon Ball: Season One Review

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(More customer reviews)I have long wondered when Funimation would finally get the rights to the first thirteen episodes of Dragon Ball allowing them to release a proper set. Now after all that waiting it's finally going to happen and their giving us the first two sagas and beginning of the third all in one set! I'm ecstatic to read from Gen Fukunaga, president at CEO at FUNimation Entertainment, that the original thirteen episodes will be redone uncut as up til now they've only been properly available in a highly edited DVD set titled 'The Saga of Goku'. While I happily purchased that set long ago from LionsGate Entertainment I'm more than happy to upgrade to this set if it means finally owning those first thirteen uncut episodes.
This set will contain the following 31 episodes from the Goku/Pilaf, Tournament and Red Ribbon Army Sagas:
The Saga Of Goku/Emperor Pilaf Saga
1 Secret of the Dragon Ball
2 The Emperor's Quest
3 The Nimbus Cloud Of Roshi
4 Oolong the Terrible
5 Yamcha the Desert Bandit
6 Keep an Eye on the Dragon Balls
7 The Ox-King on Fire Mountain
8 The Kamehameha Wave
9 Boss Rabbit's Magic Touch
10 The Dragon Balls Are Stolen
11 The Penalty Is Pinball
12 A Wish to the Eternal Dragon
13 The Legend Of Goku
Tournament Saga
14 Goku's Rival
15 Look Out for Launch
16 Find That Stone!
17 Milk Delivery
18 The Turtle Hermit Way
19 The Tournament Begins
20 Elimination Round
21 Smells Like Trouble
22 Yamcha Vs. Jackie Chun
23 Monster Beast Giran
24 Krillin's Frantic Attack!
25 Danger From Above
26 The Grand Finals
27 Number One Under The Moon
28 The Final Blow
Red Ribbon Army Saga
29 The Roaming Lake
30 Pilaf and the Mystery Force
31 Wedding Plans?
There haven't been any real extras on Funimation sets other than previews for their other DVD releases so I wouldn't count on finding any here. The set is said to include English and Japanese language options with the original Japanese musical score in 5.1 Surround. I'm glad Funimation and Amazon are announcing the set as Full Screen Aspect Ratio because though I adapted to the cropped 'widescreen' Dragon Ball Z sets I can't imagine watching Dragon Ball in anything other than 4:3 aspect ratio. I'm so excited for this to come out and can't believe that my long standing wish to have the first uncut season of Dragon Ball is finally coming true. Thanks For Your Time.

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The greatest adventure of all time begins now! pGoku may be small, but this fearless warrior packs a punch as powerful as any on the planet. Left alone after his grandfather\'s death, this unusual boy is happy to spend his days hunting and eating and eating some more. But everything changes on the day he meets Bulma – a bossy, blue-haired beauty with boys on the brain. Together, they set out to track down the seven magic Dragon Balls and make the wish that will change their lives forever.
And that\'s just the beginning! Goku also spends some time on Turtle Island where he and Krillin study martial arts under the legendary Master Roshi. The old hermit may not look like much, but if his new pupils can find him a woman, he\'ll make sure they\'re ready to rumble at the upcoming World Martial Arts Tournament!
Season One of Dragon Ball is a must-have for everyone from the die-hard fan to the next generation of collectors.

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The Pretender 2001 / The Pretender - Island of the Haunted (2001) Review

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(More customer reviews)I was ecstatic when I found out that these two films would finally be released on DVD, not only because I am a big fan of 'The Pretender' and this would be my first opportunity to see them but also because I was hoping to see this wonderful series' multiple plot threads neatly woven together into a finished tapestry.
Unfortunately there was no such luck. 'The Pretender 2001' answers a few questions of where season 4 left off but leads to even more unanswered questions. It was a very entertaining film, much in the same vein as its episodic predecessors, so it is definitely worth watching for any 'Pretender' fan.
'The Pretender - The Island of the Haunted' is even more puzzling and complex than the preceding film, which is frustrating to no end since there is no real resolve. What began as an enigmatic series headed by the altruistic protagonist and the ambiguous hunters, namely Ms. Parker, Broots and Sidney, ends up in much the same way, with simply a few more pieces of the puzzles but far from having a complete picture of Jarod and Ms. Parker's legacies. The movie itself is well directed with an eerie yet appealing ambience on the island that's riddled with mysteries, and the story is clever, as usual. Nothing is left desired acting wise, the cast delivers great performances, especially by Jarod and Ms. Parker, who hint at something beyond mere mutual respect and an unspoken comradery.
All in all, this is well worth getting as it is a slightly better conclusion to the series than the season 4 finale cliffhanger, but nevertheless, I along with all the other fans of 'The Pretender' want answers to the questions that remain from the numerous arching storylines, such as who exactly is Jarod's mother, will he ever get to spend time with her and settle down, what became of Jarod's dad, who murdered Ms. Parker's mother and why, what is the fate of Ms. Parker's newly found half brother, besides Mr. Lyle, what will happen with Mr. Parker and Brigitte's newborn son from season 4, what will happen to the Triumvirate, The Centre, as well as the new questions from both these new, final films.
I implore the producers of this excellent series to please make an ultimate film that will once and for all answer the burning questions that have haunted not just Jarod and Ms. Parker but the fans as well for so many years. I sincerely plead to both the TNT and NBC channels that they produce a fitting end to 'The Pretender' saga. Not only would this be a sound business investment given the large fan base the world over who would buy the film, but also it would please everyone who's dying to know how this amazing journey ends. Thank you for your time and consideration.

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Disc 1 Side A: PRETENDER 2001 (Full Screen) Picking up where the television series left off, Jarod reunites with two old friends and unleashes some powerful Centre revelations. This film opens with a sequence that will allow it to be enjoyed by individuals who have not yet seen the TV series.Disc 1 Side B:PRETENDER: ISLAND OF THE HAUNTED (Widescreen) Through a series of bizarre circumstances, Jarod and Miss Parker find themselves trapped together on a strange island in a life and death situation, out of which come some of the most important revelations about their pasts.

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Zatoichi - The Blind Swordsman (Vol. 1) (1974) Review

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(More customer reviews)First let me say that I am basing this review on my old bootleg collection of this television series. I am sure that Tokyo Shock was able to get clear prints of this series just as in the past they, Animeigo, and Hve were all able to get first rate prints of the Zatoichi movies.
By the 1960's Japanese cinema was dominated by film series with 3 or four "episodes" a year. Actor Shintaro Katsu had portrayed a blind masseur in the movie "Shiranui Kengyo" [Agent Shiranui ]. In 1962 Katsu stared as yet another blind masseur in the film "Zatoichi Monogatari" [ The tale of the low ranking blind man Ichi. ] In the movie Ichi had a name that gave him the rank of "Zato" which basically meant the lowest level of the blind men's masseur guild. However, this was just a cover. Ichi was actually a high ranking Yakuza assassin who's master swordsmanship was sought after by all the Yakuza bosses. While Zatoichi was completely blind, he had incredible hearing, a mastery of the Iaijitsu style of fighting, and a deadly blade hidden within his cane. In the film Ichi is imployed to fight in a Yakuza gang war and is forced to kill a swordsman he respects who was hired by the rival gang. At the end of the film Zatoichi throws away his cane-sword and gives up the life of a Yakuza assassin forever.
However, the film was so popular that a second movie, "Zuko Zatoichi Monogatari" [ The continuing tale of the low ranking blind man Ichi ] was made. Here Ichi, who has his cane sword back, returns to the grave of the rival swordsman he had killed in the last film to pay his respects and ends up being forced to kill his own brother by the same Yakuza boss that hired him a year before. The film ends with Ichi killing the boss in vengeance.
With the success of the second film, Daiei Studio decided to turn it into a full film series staring Katsu. The third film "Shin Zatoichi Monogatari" [ A new tale of the low ranking blind man Ichi ] was the first Zatoichi film in color and was followed by 19 other films. In each Zatoichi has given up his life as an assassin, even as Yakuza bosses are always trying to hire him. But he usually has the misfortune of wandering into a town menaced by an evil Yakuza boss or corrupt government official and always ends up wiping out them and their henchmen. On many occasions he would also run into a swordsman who vowed to be the one who would finally kill the now legendary Zatoichi and the film would end with a quick duel with Ichi the victor. As the series progressed Ichi soon had a price on his head by Yakuza gangs and was wanted by the law.
By 1967 Daiei studios was in financial trouble due to loosing customers to television. With them unable to fully finance many of the Zatoichi films, production was taken over by Shintaro Katsu himself with his company Katsu Productions and was sold back to Daiei for distribution. When Daiei Studios finally went bankrupt in 1970 the movies were sold to rival studio Toho for three more films, as well as the rights to the other Katsu produced films that had been formerly released by Daiei.
But by the 70's Japanese audiences wanted anti-heroes which by then Zatoichi wasn't. No longer able to sell his films to Toho, Katsu decided instead to take Zatoichi to television as a weekly series. One may wonder if the quality of the series dropped off with a smaller budget, hour long episodes, and the demand for a new story each week. And amazingly, the Zatoichi television series is just as good as the film series that preceded it. In fact many may prefer the television series. Since each episode is reduced from 85 to 55 minutes, you get to the climatic fight a lot sooner. Also since the plot has to be simplified to accommodate less characters, the films are easier to follow. Zatoichi movies usually have several plot lines that converge at the climax while the television shows usually have only one. And with exception to the absence of fountains of blood pouring out of Ichi's victims [ something only seen in the later movies ] the production quality is every bit as good as the movies. There are some episodes that reuse plots from the movies, but by the last few Toho films they were already recycling some of the earlier film plots.
The series lasted for 100 episodes before Katsu retired the character. The character came out of retirement 1989 in one last film for an independent studio called "Zatoichi".
Bringing Zatoichi to home video in the United States was not easy. "Zatoichi to Yojimbo" [ The low ranking blind man Ichi meets the Bodyguard ] was brought to VHS by Ventura Distribution in the 1990's, but from a poor quality film print. Around the same time Chambara Entertainment released several of the early Daiei films on VHS in a format called "Chambarama" where the letterbox was at the extreme top of the screen instead of the center. In the late 90's Janus Films bought the American distribution rights and for a while was going to release several Zatoichi titles on Laser-disc under the Criterion title. This was delayed because of the conversion from Laser-disc to DVD. AnimEigo, a home video company that originally distributed Japanese cartoons began securing the rights to several Japanese martial arts and swordplay films and was able to get the rights to the later Katsu production films from Toho. While they began releasing many of their Japanese swordplay films on Laser-disc including Katsu production's "Lone Wolf and Cub" series, they held off on the Zatoichi until they could get the rights to all the films and release them in order. But getting the rights was nearly impossible. Miramax had bought the rights to the 14th Zatoichi film "Zatoichi umi o wataru" [ Pilgrimage of the low level blind man Ichi ] to be remade in a possible American version of the series. [ This was the second attempt. Years earlier Tri-Star Pictures bought the rights to Zatoichi and reworked the character as a Viet-Nam veteran. The film, titled "Blind Fury", starred Rutger Hauer as the Americanized Zatoichi. No sequels were made. ] Because Miramax owned the rights to film #14 in able to keep the film from being released on home video in competition with their remake, no one would be able to release the whole series. Janus instead gave the series to Criterion's HVE division [ this was Criterion's no thrills line of DVDs that came with few extras and no commentary, but still offered high quality prints ] as well as selling the broadcast rights to the Independent Film Channel. There decision was to release each film in order with the episode number on the side of the box, skipping episodes #14 [ owned by Miramax ] and #16 [ which was owned by AnimEigo ]. AnimEigo decided to release their films without the episode numbers on the side of the box.
Tokyo Shock is the third DVD distributor to attempt to release the Zatoichi films. By the time they became interested all that was left was the 1989 film "Zatoichi". However, they were also able to get the rights to the full 100 episodes, and as they have announced that they will release them at 4 episodes per disc, then you can expect 25 volumes. With "Blind Fury" being released on DVD by Sony Pictures and the new Zatoichi film starring Takeshi Kitano as the lead [ Katsu died in 1997 of lung cancer ] being released on Miramax Home Entertainment, that leaves just movie episode #14. As it looks like no American film will be made you can probably expect it to be released by the end of next year.


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